After completing today’s readings, I have been reflecting on the process by which one becomes a social media influencer. We see in Caroline’s story that she fabricated the conditions for her to gain more followers who would buy her book. However, I wonder what the process of becoming an influencer looks like for those who do it “organically” (e.g.: YouTube celebrities in 2006), i.e., by chance/coincidence/accident. I also wonder if the existence of these popular media figures points to a more abstract human need for influencers — a need to follow someone from whom to draw new ideas and to look up to. What kinds of influencers existed before social media? I also wonder if more recent social media platforms, such as TikTok, have allowed the rise of different types of influencers. I hope I can explore these topics more in the future.
2 Replies to “Reflection 10/26/20”
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I really loved how you went into Caroline’s own thinking in regards to social media. In particular, I loved how you looked at influencer culture in particular. You definitely bring up some good points regarding who is a pure influencer versus who simply buys their fame. Having grown up in Los Angeles, where influencer culture is currently at large, I definitely feel how buying followers can be unpure and going against the influencer ideal. However, I think this does bring up the question of how influencer can influence others without fake followers? Are they simply willing to leave it up to chance?
And is there a difference if an influencer is bought by a company, that is, sponsored by a company so that their followers should pay attention to the company as well?